Fireplace damper construction



March 14, 1933. J. KOBERLING FIREPLACE DAMPER CONSTRUCTION Filed July 26. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 14, 1933.

J. KOBERLING 1.901,753

FIREPLACE DAMPER CONSTRUCTION Filed July 26, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 14, 1933 PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH KOIBERLING, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA FIREPLACE DAIVIIER CONSTRUCTION Application filed July 26, 1932. Serial No. 624,859.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fireplace damper construction.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a fireplace damper capable of mounting in vertical or angularly arranged flue 0r chimney passages with a universal connection in the operating mechanism for the damper permitting diflerent angular mountings of the damper in the flue or chimney passageway.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a fireplace damper and operating mechanism therefor wherein the operating mechanism includes an adjustable flame structure to accommodate the mounting of the operating mechanism on the rear or back key stone of a fireplace arch.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood the same consists in the novel form,combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter were fully described, shown in the accompanying draw ings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a fireplace and associated flue with the damper set in the base of the flue at the head of the fireplace with the operating mechanism for the damper located at the fireplace arch and showing by dotted lines the damper mounted in an angularly disposed flue;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a fireplace and associated flue, similar to Figure 1, with the damper set into the lower end of the flue at the head of the fireplace and the operating mechanism horizontally aligned with the damper above the fireplace mantel;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2, showing the connection between the operating rod and damper;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the damper operating mechanism and supporting structure therefor with the link connecting the operating mechanism to the damper shown in section;

50 Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectionai view taken on line 55 of Figure 1, showing the adjustable frame carrying the damper operating mechanism;

Figure 6 is an outer end elevational view of the supporting frame for the damper operating mechanism; and

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of Figure 4, showing the universal connection in the-damper operating mechanism for the link rod connection between said mechanism and damper.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Figures l and 2, there is illustrated a fireplace comprising a rear wall 10, an upper front wall 11 spaced by a mirror or other ornae mental finish 12 above the mantel 13 with the fireplace opening 1% disposed below the mantel and backed by the fire arch 1 5. The open upper end of the fireplace 1a is in communication with a chamber 16 leading to the vertical chimney passageway or flue 17.

The damper 18 is pivotally supported between the chamber 16 and flue 17 above the mantel 13 as shown in Figure 1 by means of pivot pins 19 having pivot bearings in angle strips 20 set into the rear and front wall constructions 10 and 11 of the fireplace.

The operating mechanism for the damper 18 as shown in detail in Figures 41 to 7 includes an adjustable frame 21 mounted upon the rear or back key stone 22 as shown in Figure 1 rearwardly of the key stone 23 above the fireplace opening 14:, the adjustable frame including an inverted U-shaped strap having an upper cross bar 241 carrying depending side legs 25 engaged with the upstanding side legs 26 of a Ushaped member including the lower cross-bar 27. The side 9 legs 26 are longitudinally slotted as at 28 and nut and bolt combinations 29 carried by the legs 25 and extending through the slots 28 maintain the two U-shaped frame members in vertically adjusted position to accommodate mounting thereof on the back key stone 22. The lower cross bar 27 of the U-shaped frame member is mounted upon the arm 30 and is longitudinally adjustable with respect to said arm by means of the nut and bolt combinations 31 carried by the lower cross arm 27 and extending through the longitudinal slot 32 in the arm 30.

A tubular guide 33 extends between the side leg 26 of the U-shaped frame member in spaced relation to the lower cross bar 27 thereof and through which tubular guide, the damper operating rod 34 rectangular in cross section is freely mounted for rotation therein, the end of the damperoperating rod 34 directed toward the key stone 23 being anchored in a bearing plug 35 that in turn 1s rotatably supported in the ornae mental damper indicator plate 36 fixed to the upstanding bracket 37 rising from the adjacent end of the frame supporting rod 32. The damperoperating lever 38 is fixed as at 39 upon the bearing plug 35 outwardly of the indicator plate 36. A tensioned stop ball 40 is carried by the damper operating lever 38 and is receivable in depressions 41 provided in the outer face of the damper indicator plate 36 as shown in Figure 6 for determining the angular or open and closed positions of the damper 18 relative to the flue 17, position indicating indicia 42 being denoted on the face of the damper indicator plate 36.

The connection between the damper operating rod 3 1 and damper 18 includes an arm 43 having a rectangular cross bore in one end thereof to receive the adjacent end of the damper operating rod that is retained in position by means of the set scre 44. The outer end of the arm 43 carries an outwardly directed pin 15 upon which a relatively short tubular member a6 is pivot ally mounted by means of diametrically opposite openings in said tubular member received on said pin with the tubular member retained in position on the pin by means of the collar pin 47 or other retaining element. As shown in Figure 7, a cylindrical plug 48 has a swivel connection with one end of the tubular member 16 by means of the inwardly directed flange 49 on the tubular member and the disk head 50 on the plug, the mounting of the tubular member 16 and plug 18 constituting a universal joint. The plug 18 is provided with a cross bore that receives one end of a link rod 51 to be anchored therein by the set screw 52 entering the outer end of the plug for engagement with the link rod while the outer end of the link rod 51 is provided with a book 53 engageable with an eye 54 carried by one side of the damper plate 18 as shown in Figure 1.

From the above detailed description of the device, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent, it being noted that upon operation of the damper shifting lever 38, the damper operating rod 34 moves the arm 43 for the opening and closing of the damper 18 by larly disposed flue 17a illustrated by dotted linesin Figure 1' so that with the same opcrating mechanism and damper construction the apparatus may be mounted in fireplaces and associated fines of various designs.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the damper 18a carries bearing members 19a at opposite ends thereof for pivotal support in angle strip 20, the bearing members 19a having bores therein of rectangular form in cross section to receive one end of the damper operating shaft 34a that extends through an opening 55 in the front wall construction 11 of the fireplace above the mantel 13, the adjustable U-shaped frame members, both upright and inverted being omitted in this installation of the device and a support arm 30 alone employed for the mounting of the damper and operating shaft 3 1a. As shown in Figure 3, the damper operating rod 34a is retained in the bearing member 19a by means of the set screw 56.

Vhile there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is-nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim 1. In a fireplace damper construction, a key stone for the fireplace, a pivotally mounted damper and operating means therefor including an adjustable frame to accommodate mounting of the frame on key stones and fireplaces of different sizes, a damper operating rod rot'atably supported on the frame and a link rod bet-ween the operating rod and damper including a universal oint comprising an arm with the universal joint at the outer end of the arm and said link rod being adjustably positioned with respect to the universal joint.

2. In a fireplace damper construction, a key stone for the fireplace, a pivotally mounted damper and operating means therefor including an adjustable frame to accommodate mounting of the frame on key stones and fireplaces of different sizes, a damper operating rod rotatably supported in the frame and a link rod between the operating rod and damper including a universal joint, comprising an arm fixed to and radially projecting from the operating rod, a pin projecting laterally of the outer end of the arm, a tubular member pivoted on the pin with the longitudinal axis thereof extending transversely of the pin and a plug swivelled in the tubular member and to which the link rod is fixed.

3. in a fireplace damper construction, a key stone for the fire place, a pivotally mounted damper and operating means therefor including an adjustable frame to accommodate mounting of the frame on key stones and fireplaces of difierent sizes, a damper operating rod rotatahly supported on the frame and a link rod between the operating rod and damper including a universal joint, the adjustable frame including a pair of in terfitting J-shaped members having the side legs thereof overlapped and means for holding the U-shaped members in adjusted positions.

4. In a fireplace damper construction, a key stone for the fire place, a pivotally mounted damper and operating means therefor including an adjustable frame to accommodate mounting of the frame on key stones and fireplaces of difierent sizes, a damper operating rod rotatably supported in the frame and a link rod between the operating rod and damper including a universal joint, comprising an arm fixed to and radially projecting from the operating rod, a pin projecting laterally of the outer end of the arm, a tubular member pivoted on the pin with the longitudinal axis thereof extending transversely of the pin and a plug swivelled in the tubular member and to which the link rod is. fixed, the adjustable frame including a pair of interfitting U- shaped members having the side legs thereof overlapped and means for holding the U- shaped members in adjusted positions.

5. In a fireplace damper construction, a key stone for the fireplace, a pivotally mounted damper and operating means therefor including an adjustable frame to accommodate mounting of the frame on key stones and fireplaces of difierent sizes, a damper operating rod rotatably supported in the frame and a link rod between the operating rod and damper including a universal joint, the adjustable frame including a pair of interfitting Ushaped members havin the side legs thereof overlapped and means for holding the Ushaped members in adjusted positions, a bearing carried by one of the frame members for the damper operating rod, an arm adjustably attached to the adjustable frame and supporting one end of the operating rod and a damper operating handle attached to the last named end of the operat ing rod.

6. in a fireplace damper construction, a key stone for the fireplace, a pivotally mounted damper and operating means therefor including an adjustable frame to accommodate mounting of the frame on key stones and fireplaces of different sizes, a damper operating rod rotatably supported in the frame and a link rod between the operating rod and damper including a universal joint, comprising an arm fixed to and radially projecting from the operating rod, a pin projecting laterally of the outer end of the arm, a tubular member pivoted on the pin with the longitudinal axis thereof extending transversely of the pin and a plug swivelled in the tubular member and to which the link rod is fixed, the adjustable frame including a pair of interfitting U-shaped members having the side legs thereof overlapped and means for holding the U-shaped members in adjusted positions, a bearing carried by one of the frame members for the damper operating rod, an arm adjustably attached to the adjustable frame and supporting one end of the operating rod and a damper operating handle attached to the last named end of the operating rod.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH KOBERLING. 

